Cable-tie-clamping device



J. HJESSUP.

CABLE TIE CLAMPING DEVICE. APPLICATlON FILED n0v.29. I920.

4,? 62. 4 Patented July 19, 1921.

In en/Or Z {Q v I, fl/forney PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES H. JESSUP, 0F SALEM, OHIO.

GABLE-TIE-GLAMPING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 19, 1921.

o i l a plication filed April 14, 1920, Serial No. 373,837. Divided and this application filed November 29, 1920. Serial No. 426,953.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs H. Jnssur, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salem, in the county of Columbiana and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Cable- Tie- Clamping Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to hangers, adapted for use in positioning cable fasteners to overhead wires or supporting cables, and is particularly concerned with a clamping mechanism, which enables an operator to securely clamp a cable fastener into position on an overhead supporting cable while remaining upon the ground.

A11 object of this invention is the provision of means for effectively clamping a fastenor, of a certain existing type, to an overhead supporting cable.

Another object is the provision of means for operating the clamping device, whereby the clamping operation may be quickly performed on an overhead fastener, while the operator stands upon the ground.

In accomplishing the above objects my invention contemplates the use of movable jaws, which are held at the top of an adjustable supporting device, and which are adapted to be closed by manipulation of a clamping member carried by the supporting device, and within reach of the operator. The means for accomplishing the above objects will be more fully set forth in the following description which relates to the drawings, and the essential characteristics will be set forth in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a telescopic supporting device embodying the features of my invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through the upper end of the supporting device showing in elevation the movable clamping jaws; Fig. 3 is an enlarged end view of the clamping jaws; Figs. 4 and 5 are details showing the specific construction of cable fastener adapted for use with this invention.

The mechanism which I prefer to employ as a raising element is described and claimed in my co-pending application Serial 1S0. 373837, filed April 14, 1920, and of which the present application is in the nature of a division.

Designating the parts by the use of reference characters, in Fig. 1 the supporting device is shown as embodying telescopic members 10 and 11, which are preferably of a size convenient to be held in the hand of an operator, and of such weight that the entire unit may be easily transported and manipulated, without causing undue fatigue. The member 11 is adapted to be manually raised, or moved longitudinally with relation to the outer tube 10, and to be clamped in any desired position to correspond with the height of the overhead cables to which the fasteners are to be secured.

Positioned near the upper portion of the outer member 10 is a clamping lever 12 supported in the bearings in the lug 13. The clamping lever may have a projecting finger 14 in the upper end thereof, which projection is adapted to pass through an opening in the tube 10 and to engage a corresponding aperture in the tube 11, whenever the inner member 11 is moved, so as to bring the apertures in registration and thereby lock the members 10 and 11 in operative position. spring 15 constantly urges the projecting point 14 inwardly, while a cord 16 may be secured at one end of the lever and extend downwardly so as to be within reach of the operator. This cord when pulled downwardly moves the lever against the force of the spring 15, thereby removing the project ing member 14 from the apertures in the telescopic members, and permitting one member to be moved relatively to the other.

To cause relative movement between the inner and outer members, I provide a cable 17, which passes over a pulley wheel 18, positioned on a collar 19 near the upper end of the stationary member 10. One end of this cable 17 extends downwardly within reach of the operator, while the other end thereof is secured preferably to a lug 40 on the movable member 11. This lug extends through a slot in the outer member and thereby serves to prevent the inner member from rotating within the outer member. It will be seen that a downward pull on the cable 17 will cause an upward movement of the inner member 11, and that various lengths may be obtained by arranging a series of apertures which are adapted to be engaged by the projecting point 14 on the lever 12.

The mechanism hereinbefore described constitutes a supporting device for this inher itself.

vention, but it is understood that any sort of supporting device is applicable, provided the device permits the clamping mechanism to be operated while the operator remains on the ground.

At the upper end of the supporting device I provide a pair of arcuate jaws 20--21, which may be pivotally supported at 22 to the arms 2324. of the bifurcated member 25. Each jaw is provided with an outwardly extending arm 26--27, to which an operating cord 28 may be secured. The pivot point 22 is so positioned that the weight of each arm is sufiicient to cause the arcuate portions of the jaws to be urged toward each other, and the arcuate portions being substantially complementary to the cable fastener, are thereby normally urged into clamping position.

The bifurcated member 25 may be pro- ,vided with a shank 29, which is adapted to extend into the top of the member 11 and to be rigidly secured thereto, as by the rivet 30. Obviously the upper portion of the member 11 maybe split to provide bearings for journaling the pin 22, and the aws may be thereby pivoted directly to the mem- The means for moving the jaws into clamping position comprises a flexible connection, such as a cord 28, which may extend from one arm 26 through an eyeelO on. an operating lever 36, and to theother arm 27. This lever may be pivoted at 37 to a. collar 38 near the lower end of the Supporting device and may be provided with an operating handle 39. To movethe jaws inwardly, the supporting device is first extended until the cord 28 is taut, and then the lever 36 is moved downwardly an amount sufficient to securely clamp the cable fastener.

The connecting tie or fastener adapted for use with this invention is shown in Fig. l, as embodying a strip of flexible metal bent to a U-shape, as at 31. The ends of the U-shaped member are bent inwardly as at 3233 with the bent portions facing each other. These bent portions. 32 33 form loops which are smaller than the U-bend 31, and are adapted to engage the supporting'cable 34, which is generally smaller in diameter than the current carrving cable 35'.

To use the clamping device, the operator inserts the fastener within the jaws 20-21, while the fastener is in theposition shown in Fig. 4. 'The supporting device is then extended until the fastener is of such height that it may engage the supporting cable, whereupon the lever 12 is permitted to engage apertures in the member 11 and to retain the member in the desired extended position. The supporting device containing the open fastener. is then positioned directly beneath the current'carrying cable. An upward movement of the device then enables the cables 34 and 35 to pass into the U- shaped fastener, and the device is thereupon urged upwardly a still greater amount to permit the bent portions 32 and 33 to clear the supporting cable 34:. A downward motion on the clamping lever 36 thereby forces the jaws 20 and 21 inwardly, and causes the bent portions 32 and 33 of the fastener to be urged toward each other. A partial rotation of the supporting device then permits the bent portions to slide past each other and to'extend over the cable 34; and an ensuing downward motion causes the fastener to engage the supporting cable 34, as shown in 80 Fig. 5, whereupon the weight of the current carrying cable retains the fastener in locked position. The clamping lever 36 is then released, and the device isremoved and lowered for another fastener.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a clamping device, which is readily adapted to be positioned on an extensible supporting member, and to be manipulated for effectively clamping a cable fastener into position, upon an overhead supporting cable, while an operator remains in comparative safely upon the ground. In addition to the provision of means for rendering the cable clamping operation a safe task, my invention possesses the characteristics of lightness in weight, and combined with cheapness in manufacture.

Having thus described my invention, I 100- claim:

1. In a device of the classzdescrib'ed, the combination with an extensible support, of movable clamping'members carried by thesupport, and means associated with the sup- 1'05 port for operating said members and means for extending said support. 7

2. In a cable tie hanger, the combination with a telescopic extension device, ofjaws pivotally secured to one of said telescopic members, and means for actuating said aws. V

3. In a cable tie hanger, the combination with an extensible supporting means, of

jaws pivotally secured thereto, a lever pivotally secured to the lower portion of said extensible 7 means, connecting means between said jaws and said lever.

4. In a cable tie hanger, the combination with an extensible supporting device, of movable jaws carried thereby, and pivoted means connected withsaid device for operating said jaws I j 5. In a cable tie hanger, the combination with extensible supporting means, of clamping jaws pivotally secured thereto, a. 1ever carried by the supporting means, and'means connecting the lever with the clamping laws. 7 l

6. In a cable tie hanger, thecombination with extensible supporting means, of clamping jaws pivotally carried thereby, each of said jaws being pivoted on one side of the center of gravity thereof, whereby the clamping portions of said jaws are normally urged toward each other.

7. In a cable tie hanger, the combination with a handle, of jaws carried by the handle and pivoted thereto, the pivot point for each jaw being positioned at one side of the center of gravity thereof, each of said jaws having on one side of the pivot point. an arcuate clamping surface adapted to engage a U-shaped cable fastener, and on the other side of the pivot point an outwardly extending arm, an operating lever and means for connecting each arm to the operatin lever.

8. In a cable tie hanger, the combination with an extensible supporting device, of a pair of jaws pivoted at the uppermost end of said device, each of said jaws being provided with an arcuate portion, adapted to receive and to clamp a U-shaped flexible cable fastener, a lever carried at the lower end of the device, and means connecting the jaws with the lever, whereby downward motion of the lever moves the jaws inwardly to clamp the cable fastener.

9. In a cable tie hanger, the combination with a telescopic supporting device, of a bifurcated member rigidly secured at the upper end thereof, a pair of jaws pivotally supported within said member, each of said jaws being provided with a clamping face and an outwardly extending arm, each of said clamping faces having a width greater than that of the arm, a lever pivoted at the lower end of said supporting device, connecting means extending from one arm downwardly around said lever, and then upwardly and secured to the other of said arms, whereby a downward movement of the lever operates to clamp the jaws.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

JAMES H. J ESSUP. 

